Bon-Ton announced its plan to close stores in November. The company has lost money for the last six years. It lost $44.9 million in its fiscal third quarter as sales fell 7.6 percent. Through the first three quarters of 2017, Bon-Ton lost $135.4 million.

The closures represent about a sixth of Bon-Ton's 260 department stores, furniture galleries and clearance centers in the U.S.

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Bon-Ton stores are anchor tenants in most major shopping malls in Wisconsin, where it is closing nine stores.

The company has dual headquarters in Milwaukee and York, Pennsylvania.

“As part of the comprehensive turnaround plan we announced in November, we are taking the next steps in our efforts to move forward with a more productive store footprint,” said Bill Tracy, president and chief executive officer for The Bon-Ton Stores.

Paul Gores from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this story.